Question

What are the advantages and disadvantages of radio telescopes?

Answer 1

Hint: Radio telescopes are instruments that receive radio signals from outer space. Radio telescopes are made up of three primary sections:
- A radio reflector dish
- A radio antenna (receiver)
- A recorder

Complete answer:
Advantages:
- Since radio waves are untouched by clouds and the Earth's atmosphere, radio telescopes can receive signals even though the sky is cloudy. Strong winds, which interfere with the large dish, and thunderstorms are the only exceptions.
- Radio telescopes can be used both at night and during the day.
- Dust particles in space have little effect on radio waves. These dust particles disperse light rays, but they never reach Earth to be detected. Radio Waves, which have even longer wavelengths, are unaffected by these small dust particles and fly large distances through space to reach Earth, allowing radio telescopes to see what they want to see.

Disadvantages:
- The radio waves that reach Earth are very small and poor in strength. The energy delivered per second by an electromagnetic wave is its power. Low-frequency radio waves of long wavelengths contain low-energy photons. As a result, vast collection areas are needed by radio telescopes in order to obtain a detectable signal.
- Since radio signals from space are so small, interference from Earth-based radio signal sources such as transmitters for Earth-based satellites will easily drown them out. This is why radio telescopes are installed in far-flung places far from civilization.

Note:
- Radio waves are produced by stars, planets, and other astronomical objects. Radio telescopes on Earth can detect these radio waves.
- Natural sources such as lightning and astronomical events can produce radio waves, as can artificial sources such as broadcast radio towers, mobile phones, satellites, and radar.